13 posts from March 2009

Figures. I haven't even been back in town for 18 hours and the Phillies were busier than ever today.

They're getting closer to having their 25-man roster set by making a handful of moves Monday at spring training.

Veteran infielder Marcus Giles, trying to rebound after not playing last year, was released by the club, according to phillies.com

I think it's a good move. Giles hit just .167 (3-for-36) with three doubles, two RBIs and three stolen bases in 19 Grapefruit League games. That's pitiful. You can't justify keeping a guy like that around when you have Eric Bruntlett, who's having a great spring offensively and is very solid defensively, and Greg Dobbs, who is adequate at third and one of baseball's best hitters.

The club also optioned outfielder John Mayberry Jr. and right-handed pitcher Carlos Carrasco, according to phillies.com, to minor league camp, making the battle for the fifth spot in the rotation officially down to two (J.A. Happ and Chan Ho Park). They also told RHP Mike Koplove, infielder Pablo Ozuna and outfielder Jason Ellison that they would not make the 25-man roster, but would make the trip to Philadelphia on Thursday night for the team's final exhibition games on Friday and Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park, reported phillies.com.

If any position player gets a chance during the season, it should be Mayberry (as of now). He had an admirable spring, hitting .246 (12-for-69( with six doubles, two home runs, 13 RBIs and 12 walks). Having said that, things could change. He could struggle in Triple-A and someone else could get hot. But he did look good the last six weeks.

New left-handed reliever Jack Taschner, acquired from San Francisco in a trade for Ronny Paulino, arrived in the Phillies' clubhouse for the first time Sunday morning.

The lifelong Giant was thrown for a loop by all the red uniform gear, especially the spikes.

"You go from a team that's all black to this red. It's definitely different," he joked.

Getting ready to head east was more than a little hectic for Taschner and his family. His wife, Miriam, is eight months pregnant. She's headed back to Wisconsin to be close to her doctor who delivered their first child and then will eventually make her way to Philadelphia after the baby is born.

Taschner, who had Tommy John surgery in 2002, isn't worried about being around new teammates or coaches. In fact, he's looking forward to getting some new instruction and ideas.

"It's not a knock on the coaching in San Francisco," he said. "But when you do hear from somebody else, maybe they use different terminology or the way they put something makes a lot of sense or helps you get over something."

Surprisingly, Taschner has better career numbers against right-handed hitters (.247 batting average against) than left-handed ones (.288 batting average against).

"I've been consistently better to that side of the plate because my ball runs," he said. "With lefties, I'll have great streaks and absolutely horrendous streaks. I'll go into a two-month streak where I won't give up a hit to a lefty and then I'll have a month where I don't get a lefty out."

The Wisconsin native, who'll be 31 in April, spent the winter developing a two-seemer, a pitch he had never really tried before. He's excited about addingit to his repertoire.

"I plan on using it," the lifelong Packers fan said. "In the winter you throw it, but obviously you don't see hitters. There's very few farmers that will stand in on me in Wisconsin. I still have to find guys."

Starting pitcher Jamie Moyer threw 112 pitches in the Phillies’ 10-4 loss to the Pirates. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel liked seeing that Moyer was able to throw that many pitches.

“He built his pitch count up and that was very good for him,” Manuel said. “He definitely got his work in. But we don't want him consistently throwing that many pitches [during the regular season].”

Ryan Howard hit his National League leading eighth spring home run. His shot to dead center came on a 1-2 pitch in the fourth.

“It was wind-aided,” Howard said.

Manuel said the wind didn’t do all the work.

“He hit it real good,” Manuel said. “The wind was definitely blowing and I think it helped it ride out, but he crushed that ball. I'd like to have seen it with no wind because he hit it good. He was a little bit modest about it.”

Howard’s homer happened to come off long-time friend Ian Snell. The two have been facing each other all through the minor leagues and still chat often.

“It’s friendly,” Howard said of facing Snell. “I try to get hits off him. He tries to get me out. [Saturday] was pretty even. He got me. I got him.”

Ken Rosenthal wrote in his column a couple days ago that Chris Coste had secured the backup catcher's job over Ronny Paulino. I wasn't at the game today, but as of yesterday, manager Charlie Manuel didn't announce that a decision had been made.

Paulino, acquired in a trade with the Pirates for Jason Jaramillo in December, is having a lousy spring. He's hitting .194 (6-for-31) with one double, one homer and two RBIs.

"I see a guy who's tight, stiff," Manuel said Thursday. "He's not freely hitting through the ball. I talk to him all the time about loosening up. He doesn't use his legs."

Rosenthal also said that Paulino would be "available." Makes sense considering the Phillies have someone they're high on in Lou Marson, who started camp with the Phillies before being sent to Triple-A recently.

The Phillies' bench is far from being decided. Will veteran outfielder Matt Stairs be back? Will John Mayberry Jr. make it as the team's right-handed bat off the bench? Will outfielder Geoff Jenkins be traded away?

I certainly don't have those answers. But it's seeming like even backup infielder Eric Bruntlett is questioning his role with the team.

"When you're a bench player, God Da-- you better think you're competing," Manuel said. "Don't ever assume nothing in this game. If he thinks he has to make the team, that's great. That's the kind of hard-nosed players we want."

Ace Cole Hamels threw a bullpen session Thursday and is still on target to start Sunday's game against the Red Sox. He's expected to throw 70-75 pitches. Pitching coach Rich Dubee said that having him start on Opening Day is not out of the question and he confirmed that he did not tell anyone else that they would be the starter on April 5 against Atlanta. "Cole's fine," Dubee said.

The Phillies lost to the Yankees 10-2 in Thursday's exhibition game. The game was close until Scott Eyre allowed five runs in the eighth. But cut him some slack....he had anesthesia the day before to have work done on his teeth. "I don't want to use that as an excuse and I didn't really feel different," he said. "But a couple guys said I was probably not myself because of it."

Chase Utley and Ryan Howard both hit solo home runs Thursday. Howard now has a National League (spring) leading seven bombs and is second in RBIs with 17.

Carlos Carrasco, likely destined for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, gave up four runs (all earned) in five innings.

The Phillies had just six hits to the Yankees' 12 (five came against Eyre).

Howard and Jayson Werth both struck out twice.

On Friday against Houston, Brett Myers is slated to start with Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero and Bobby Mosebach scheduled to follow him.

It's looking more and more like Utley and Pedro Feliz, both recovering from November surgeries, will start Opening Day. Manager Charlie Manuel isn't surprised. "I knew where they were at," he said. "I knew it by watching them and talking to them and just by knowing them as guys."

I know. I know. He's coming off of back surgery in November. But I still don't think that excuses his .125 batting average. He's had just three hits in 24 at-bats (all singles) and just one RBI. He hasn't walked once and has grounded into a double play.